27 AUGUST 1831, Page 10

THE MURDER AT BHIHIITON..—H0110Way, which seems to be the wretched

man's real name, has confessed that he murdered his wife, in the house No. II, Donkey Lane. No particulars of the confession are known, farther than the fact that it has been made. A minute account has, nevertheless, appeared in the Observer newspaper, of all that passed on the occasion, the behaviour of the criminal included ; and, with a view to stamp its authenticity, the account is described as having been

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received by express from Horsham. On the testimony of Mr. Everard, the clergyman in whose presence the confession was made, it is proved, beyoncLabe possibility of doubt, that the account is a tissue of falsehood

from beginning to end. We shall not spend our ink and paper in de- precation of the vile system of pandering to the basest cravings of

diseased curiosity, by the publication of these and similar details of re- volting atrocity. The evil is in the public, which buys, as much as in the newsmonger who sells the garbage. But the publication of gross false- hoods on such an occasion, ought to be marked with duo reprobation.

,The proprietors and editors of the Observer are bound to give the name or the fellow who foisted the account on their ready credulity, that he

may be marked and avoided by other proprietors and editors, as a per- son utterly unworthy of trust. If they do not, the public will have a right to conclude that the fabrication was their own. The female whom Holloway, under the name of Goldsmith, married id Rye in March last year, has been examined with a view to discover

-if any connexion subsisted between her and the murder committed by

her husband. Her name, it appears, is Kennet, not Kennard ; and her relations are described as respectable. At the first examination, which took place on Monday, Maskell and others spoke to finding part of the body at Preston ; and a man named Patching described the discovery of She head and arms in Margaret Street. Patching knew the murdered woman perfectly ; and, as soon as the head was washed, recognized the features as hers. Mr. Hargraves, the surgeon, gave evidence to the fit- ting of the several mutilated portions to the trunk. Mr. Richardson, another surgeon, mentioned several circumstances which tended to prove that the deceased had not died a natural death, but had been murdered by suffocation. One of the officers produced some.baby linen found in Kennet's lodgings ; and the Police Superintendent, Mr. Thorburn, pro- duced some rags stained with blood. Prisoner—" I can tell you the cause of that. I went up High Street, shout three weeks ago, where I saw Goldsmith and two girls of the town, with their arms on his shoulders. I went towards him, when a word or two passed ; and he struck me a blow on the side of the head, and I was left insensible for some time. I took the rags to stop the bleeding, and Dr. Caudle wanted to sew the wound up, but I would not let him ; and that is the cause of the blood." The appearance of the blood-spots justified this account, and Dr. Candle afterwards corroborated the prisoner's statement. A female named Symmonds identified a cap, anion_; other articles, as having been worn by the deceased. The prisoner contradicted the evi- dence respecting the cap ; and she appears to have been correct in stating that it was her own. It was admitted that she had always been kindly disposed towards the murdered woman. In the course of the examination respecting the cap, she burst into tears, and said, " When she (the deceased) had no money, I had a feeling for her, and used to carry her half what I had, such as bread and butter and tea ; and to be _treated in this way is cruel.

Mary Gawen mentioned, that Kennet had, on several occasion., lea quested her not to fasten the gate which led to the back houses in Mar- garet Street, because Goldsmith was out. She particularly remembered her making this request the week before she and Goldsmith left the louse. A boy, about eleven years of age, the son of Mary Gawen, who had been present at the discovery of the head and arms, said—" I saw Hot, loway walking and Mrs. Goldsmith (the prisoner) behind him. They were coming down the street ; she had a box under her arm ; saw Hol- loway carrying a bag—a ticking bag ; there appeared to be a box in the bag ; something like blood appeared in one corner of the bag. I said to a little boy, I wonder what Master Holloway has got there—a sheep's head, or what ? ' I am quite sure she (the prisoner) followed Goldsmith —I cannot recollect how long ago it was."

The head was found wrapped in a piece of ticking, and a small box like a fruit-box was found along with it. The boy afterwards admitted that he was not certain whether the prisoner carried a box or not. Some further evidence was given, but it had little bearing on the guilt or innocence of Kennet. Mrs. Taylor, the proprietrix, mentioned. Holloway's hiring from her the house No. 11, North Steyne, or Donkey Row. A Mary Merchant spoke of Holloway's being accompanied, on one occasion that he visited the house, by a tall, slender female. This was on Saturday, five weeks past. Holloway, when he left her, was seen wheeling a barrow having a trunk upon it. On the previous Thurs. day, Kennet was at the house No. 11 along with him. The prisoner said she went to see the house, and not liking it, refused to live in it. The witness Merchant added, that the tall, slender female and Holloway took the road towards Preston, Holloway wheeling the barrow, and the woman walking before. After some more witnesses had been examined, the mother of Holloway was introduced. The pri- soner, on seeing her, was violently agitated, and burst into tears. The substance of Mrs. Holloway's statement was as follows. She had frequently, within a few days of the discovery of the body, asked pri- soner what had become of Celia (the deceased) ; but she could seldom see her son. She became very uneasy at not obtaining a satisfactory reply to her inquiries ; and on the Saturday when the body was discovered, her feelings were worked up to the highest pitch, fearful that it was the body of Celia. She went to her son's lodgings in High Street, where she found the prisoner, and inquired of her for John. Tice prisoner said he was at work en the Pier. She then requested the latter to fetch burn immediately ; and when he came home, she fell upon her knees, and besought him and the prisoner, if they had murdered the poor creature, to confess it. She told the prisoner she would have to suffer as well as him. Holloway told his mother he was innocent, in so solemn a manner, that it in some degree relieved her. The prisoner said she would take her things and go home ; she appeared alarmed and cried. Prisoner—" I deny that I said so. I went to Holloway, and told him what his mother had said, and that if he was guilty he would suffer for it. These were the words I said,—' Celia is missing, and you have taken her away from your lodgings.' He said, ' Oh, that is all right enough.' I told his mother what he said, and that it was all I could get out of him."

Eventually the prisoner was remanded until Thursday next. She complained grievously, and with apparent reason, of the rigour of her confinement. The room at Lewes, where she is confined, she said was low, damp, and cold, the floor of stone, and so beset by rats that she could get neither sleep nor rest. She earnestly begged for the presence of one of her own sex, and for a warmer and more comfortable apart- ment. We can recollect, some years ago, a part of the London press inveighing against our gaols being made, by the zeal of the Philanthro- pists, so genteel and convenient, that the people, in a short time, would be struggling who to get in instead of who to get out of them. Was Lewes gaol one of the cases on which this notable argument was founded ?

Holloway has written two letters to his mother and sister, of which the Brighton Gazette gives copies. His anxiety for the girl Kennet is a favourable trait in his character, and proves that there is no heart so wholly base that Virtue will not claim some little corner of it for her own. The letters offer a curious picture of humanity. It would be difficult to say whether the discomfort of the writer's mind or of his stomach en- gaged most of his thoughts : the bread and water struggle hard with the murder, and in the second letter have evidently the victory. The letters, though indifferently spelt, are not ill-written ; Holloway has had some education. The first was written before, the second after his confession.

HOLLOIVAr'S LETTERS,.

"Horsham Goal, August 18, 1831.

"Heave Mother and Sister,—I, your unfortunate and unhappy son, once more out of a prisson, take up my pen to right to you, hoping it may find you well, thouth I know not happy, o my dear mother, what am I at last come to, and what have I at last brought you to.

" I do not entertaine one thought of once escaping. I do thank the Lord that I have so long a time aiowed me to prepare for a nother, and I trust, abetter world. I do not feel that the paine of death is any thing to moarne about,so long as I know my peace is made with god, and that after suffering for what is comited, I may, through the mewls of my blessed redeemer, open my eyes, in that place where paine and sor- row never cometh. I hope, my deare Mother, you will not fail to pray for me with- out ceasing, that God create in me a cleane heart, and renew a right spirit with me, for now is the expected time, and none but now is the day of salvation. "Before I left Preston, Mr. Everhard promised that he would come with Mr.

Anderson to see me. I hope he will perform his promis, as I very mutch wish to see some of the dear people of God. Do not neglect to make enquierry when they will come, and let me know as soon as you can. I think, dear Mother, that you may get all that belongeth to me, and sell it, to enable you to send me something. I have got a bundle of cloaths at Black Rock public-house : all I want is a meane shirt and handchief and frock, and the rest you may sell. I hope you will send something as soon as you can, for we are aMwed nothing only bread and watter. And at our lodgings in High Street, theire is a great many things, take them all; and for my sake, keep the little dog as long as he liveth. I hope, dear Mother, you will part with no doublikets belonging to poor dear Ann, but any belonging to me you may dispose of them as you think proper, for I shall never want any of them any more. I hope you will be so kind as to send me word what bath become of poor Ann, and I likewise hope that you will not be hard hearted to ward her, and if she is still in confinement, what ever you get for me, if you do not send her half I will not receive it, and if I do, and find it out, I will send it myselfe, for you must con- sider, what ever be my case, I have ruined her for ever ; and what ever you have to send you had better send it by the carriers waggon, and then you can send a letter with it in the parsul. You know, dear Mother, that I have no mony, And if you send any thing you must pay the carrage, or I cannot receive it. Think on me, dear Mother, and think on my approaching end ; but above all, for my sake, do have mercy and pitly that poor unfortunate girl ; do not neglect, she bath no friend now left in the world. 0 my dear Mother and Sister, remember, remember us boatb,,.

from JOHN HOLLOWAY."

"Dear Mother and Sister—I am happy to inform you that I this day received a vi,<.it from Dr. Everard, and likewise a shirt and handkerchief ; and a letter from Mr. Folkuia_ with your letter. I hope, may dear mother, you will compose yourself as well as you 'lei under such trying circumstances. In your letter you advised me. to make a full confession of all I knew. I am glad to inform you that is my doter.- urination, and thea throw myself on the Redeeming Blood of Christ for mercy..

"You said in your letter that it was no use to send me any thing, fur they would • not let me have it.

" Dear Mother, I do not ask you to send me any thing, that I may live a life of luxury and wantonness the little time I have to remain on the earth ; but we hare nothing but bread and water; and I assure you that we are allowed to have any thing in reason, such as tea and sugar, or coffee, or meat broth, cooked and un- cooked, & have coals allowed us to cook with, or we may receive any money. "I do not expect, dear Mother, that you can send me any thing, but I shall take it eery laird if any sister do not help me the few hours I hare to live; yet I know she

will, for I know she loveth me. "I have just made a confession of all 1 and thank God its over !—And now I have no hope but in my Blessed Redeemer, who has promised to pard3n, to the utter-

most, all that come unto Gad through Him.

"I hope, dear Mother, that before I die you will come and see me, "From your dying Son, "Joum WILLIAM HOLLOWAY"

A man named Carver, and a female named Mary Gawen or White, have been taken up on suspicion. They had been for some nights in the house in Donkey Row, and pretended they had taken it of Mrs. Taylor ; this, however, Mrs. Taylor positively denied. There does not seem to be any serious evidence against them. Indeed, it is understood that so far as the murder was concerned, Holloway only was guilty. At the close of the proceed logs on Monday, the Magistrates severely repri. mended Savage, the high Constable of Preston, for not taking a more active part in this transaction. Instead of securing the body, it seems he suffered a drunken fellow to obtain money by showing the remains to persons who ought not to have seen so shocking a spectacle; and he had not once exerted himself to find out the perpetrator of the horrid deed, remaining quietly at home as if nothing had happened. Shows are indeed, in these cases, the order of the day. The house in Donkey Row is at present a show, and the tenant or owner has received no small sum for the exhibition.